13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The right prep book for the AP exam :), July 4, 2009
This review is from: Cracking the AP World History Exam, 2009 Edition (College Test Preparation) (Paperback)
If you're in AP World History, or self-studying, this is the book to get for the AP exam.
This past year I took my first AP [sophomore] and was extremely nervous for the exam. My teacher had us highlight and annotate the Barrons book for world history, but I found it really unhelpful. I found Barron's full of unnecessary details that distracted me and made it really difficult for me to concentrate on the vital points that I needed to know. The practice questions at the end of each chapter were too easy of a review.
Scared of getting a 2, I went on amazon to see if any other review book for the test had gotten high ratings. That's when I found Princeton Review's book. Luckily my local library had this book available so I decided to get it quickly.
To be honest, I didn't really read the intro and strategies part in depth as my teacher had done a nice job in telling us how to write the three types of essays. Plus all of our tests this year were AP Multiple Choice style.
So i skipped to the review section which was a decent size. I found it to be organized in chapters; each pertaining to one chunky time period of world history. After reading and taking good notes on the first chapter, I knew this was the right book. I was able to concentrate and really understand the material, and the book gave me several examples of connections I should make. I managed to go through the entire review section in about a month, and the notes that I took served as good reinforcement material.
The author of this book has a style that is understandable, though there are a few corny jokes in between [this actually helps you remember the material!]
One downside to this book is that there are no practice review questions after each chapter of the review [a prime reason why I took notes...and I would suggest the same]
Come AP exam time, I wasn't completely confident [who is?] but I felt much better than before. So in that sense, this book was a success. The exam was decent as well, and although I haven't gotten my scores back yet, I think I passed with a 3 or above!
* I must note that the practice tests in this book were SO off. In fact, I don't think any review book has realistic practice tests so I would suggest purchasing offical Collegeboard tests which are available on their online store.
So after a lengthy review which I hope some of you actually read, I strongly suggest this book if you are preparing for the AP World History exam and need a review guide. I haven't gotten my score back like I said, but I will be glad to update this review with my grade when I do get it :) Just getting this book alone will not help you. But if you are motivated to do well and actually go through the review carefully [and like I strongly suggest, take notes] then you will be in good shape come May !
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Hey guys! I am back to edit this review as I promised. I got my score report from Collegeboard today and I was extremely pleased. Turns out I got a 5 on the World History exam!!! This goes to show that this is the right book to use. Good luck!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, April 8, 2009
This review is from: Cracking the AP World History Exam, 2009 Edition (College Test Preparation) (Paperback)
I'm a student in AP World History this year. I really don't like the textbook. It's worded in a way where I have to read sentences three times over before I understand them. I'm almost done with reading most of the textbok, but my AP teacher isn't the best at teaching and I felt like I didn't really understand a lot of what was going to be on the test. So I bought this book and started reading some of it every night. I'm about halfway through it, and it's amazing. The first part of the book has to do with test-taking strategies and how to manage the essays. It's actually really helpful, especially since my teacher has hardly gone over how to do the essays. The second part is a huge review of the whole book. It's so much easier to read and understand and I can highlight and write all over it. It goes over some major connections. At the end of every section theres a timeline thing, and it helps me organize everything in my mind better. The book also has practice tests. I plan on finishing the textbook, reading the book twice, and doing the practice tests. Hopefully, that will be enough preparation for the big test.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Worth Your Time, June 2, 2009
This review is from: Cracking the AP World History Exam, 2009 Edition (College Test Preparation) (Paperback)
I've prepared for many standardized tests over the years, and almost always, the Princeton Review study guides are among my favorites. This particular guide was recommended by my teacher, and in complete honesty, I am very impressed by how useful and friendly it was.
Not only does the book explain how to tackle each section of the exam, but it also includes a concise review of each time period (8000 BCE - 600 CE; 600 - 1450; 1450 - 1750; 1750 - 1914; 1914 - Present). The writing style is conversational and easily understandable--completely different from a normal textbook. Plus, there's a timeline of major developments at the end of each chapter. What helped me a lot was the special boxes throughout the text that hi-lighted major patterns/ideas (e.g. "Compare Them: The Aztec Civilization and the Roman Empire," how both the Protestant Reformation and Scientific Revolution greatly impacted the Church, etc).
I have to say that one or two of the Princeton Review's practice questions seemed a little bit strange. Over all, though, going through the practice multiple choice questions definitely prepared me, and I also think this study guide contributed to my very high A in the class. Plus, I took the AP exam about two or three weeks ago, and partly thanks to this book, the exam seemed fairly easy. (Of course, I haven't received my scores yet...)
Although this book isn't perfect, it comes pretty close. If you know you want a study guide, the Princeton Review is probably your best choice.
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